The River Teifi

The River Teifi is one of Wales's most iconic waterways. As the longest river that flows entirely within Wales, it is renowned for its rich wildlife, cultural heritage and historical significance. Like many rivers, however, it faces growing pressures from pollution, climate change and unsustainable land use.

About Llais yr Afon

Llais yr Afon is a partnership project led by Small World Theatre in collaboration with spacetocreate, West Wales Rivers Trust and Save the Teifi. The project was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation's Blue Spaces Programme.

Working with communities across the Lower Teifi Valley, Llais yr Afon brought together arts and citizen science. The project began with a pilot schools programme in Cenarth and Llechryd primary schools, inspired by the remarkable Idris Mathias manuscript map created between 1945 and 1962.

During this initial phase, West Wales Rivers Trust also led the development of The People's Plan for the River Teifi - a shared vision for the river's future that prioritises ecological health, sustainable management and community involvement. The plan identified five key themes of public concern: Access, Biodiversity, Food and Farming, Water Quality, and Culture & Heritage.

In the next phase, the programme expanded to schools and communities in Cilgerran, Aberteifi and Llandudoch. As well as delivering a summer programme of community events and festivals that used the themes of The People's Plan to map the river, spark conversations and co-create the visual content for an inspiring contemporary folk map and website.

The new contemporary folk map gives a voice to the river and the people who care for it. It is a lasting resource and a legacy for future generations. The map was exhibited alongside a copy of the Idris Mathias map and toured to the participating schools and communities.

llaisyrafon.cymru is the digital home of the project, preserving its outputs in an accessible and ongoing way. The website features the contemporary map and themed galleries showcasing creative work contributed by the hundreds of people who took part.

The Legacy

Llais yr Afon brought communities, artists and scientists together to reimagine the future of the River Teifi, building stronger connections to the river and a shared responsibility for its care.

Its legacy lives on through The People's Plan, a living document shaped by local voices, and a contemporary folk map that will continue to tour. All artworks, resources and research remain freely available online, creating a lasting digital record to inform and inspire future action for a healthy, thriving river.